The metro Atlanta region’s cyber security ecosystem provides unique opportunities for UK cyber security companies wishing to expand to the US.
Atlanta houses an impressive base of companies in the sector, with more than 115 cyber security companies generating total revenue of more than $4.7 billion.
The region also uniquely benefits from the US Army’s decision to locate its Cyber Command headquarters at Fort Gordon just outside Atlanta in Augusta, Georgia, along with a National Security Agency facility currently there.
Eighty percent of the world’s financial transactions go through Atlanta and the metro area is home to the third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 company headquarters in the US.
The existing cyber-trained workforce, access to enterprise clients, significant cyber military presence, direct flights from multiple UK cities to Atlanta and from Atlanta to all major US cities, signal that Atlanta is worthy of serious consideration as the place for UK cyber security companies to enter the US market.
And they can experience the various aspects of this unique ecosystem during Atlanta Cyber Week from October 2-6.
Multiple organisations will host events during the week, with UK cyber security firms offered unparalleled access to Chief Information Security Officers from prospective large enterprise customers including the likes of Worldpay.
Cybercon 2017 is one of the anchor events for the week. The conference brings together leaders from business, government and academia to discuss cutting edge cybersecurity issues.
What makes Cybercon 2017 different from other conferences is that it also contains a pitch component.
Companies are selected from around the world to present their cyber technology to the audience and have a private lunch with all the CISO’s in attendance.
In past years, UK, Israeli, Canadian and US companies have been selected to present at Cybercon.
Atlanta Cyber Week will also see a meet-up of CISOs from the FinTech industry and others at the Baker Donelson’s cybersecurity accelerator, which I co-founded.
Cybercon, the meet-up and the accelerator are aimed at helping UK companies gain an informed understanding about needs, product fit and the opportunities which await them in the US.